A strong earthquake has struck the Greek capital, Athens, but there are no immediate reports of any casualties. The quake, which measured 6.9 magnitude, shook buildings in the capital and was felt as far away as northern Greece and Egypt. It struck at 1134 GMT and lasted for several seconds. The quake's epicentre was located about 200km (125 miles) south of Athens, near the island of Kythira, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. On Saturday, a small earthquake measuring 4.5 magnitude, was registered off the coast of the Greek island of Cephalonia. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk

An Australian woman from Brisbane has been killed in a shark attack at a popular beach near the city. Ambulance workers said the 21-year-old suffered extensive injuries, losing both arms below the elbow and sustaining deep wounds to her leg. Police suspect that several sharks carried out the attack, which happened on North Stradbroke Island. The victim was thought to have been swimming in shallow water with a local church group when she was attacked. Friends carried Sarah Kate Whiley from the water and she was quickly flown to hospital by helicopter. However, she had lost large amounts of blood and had gone into shock. She died later in hospital. The attack happened at Amity Point, which shares a name with the fictional setting for the film Jaws. Police believe three bull sharks could have attacked the young woman, and have launched a large-scale hunt in local waters....http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4591878.stm

Pope Benedict XVI performed the first baptisms of his pontificate on Sunday, using the occasion to launch an impassioned denunciation of irresponsible sex and a "culture of death" that he said pervaded the modern world.The pontiff, abandoning his prepared sermon, compared the wild excesses of the ancient Roman empire to 21st century society and urged people to rediscover their faith."In our times we need to say 'no' to the largely dominant culture of death," Benedict said during his improvised homily in the frescoed Sistine Chapel where he was elected pope last April."(There is) an anti-culture demonstrated by the flight to drugs, by the flight from reality, by illusions, by false happiness ... displayed in sexuality which has become pure pleasure devoid of responsibility," he added....http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/01/08/pope.warning.reut/index.html?section=cnn_world

A LEADING British Army officer believes Prime Minister Tony Blair should be impeached for his role in the war in Iraq, the Mail on Sunday reported.General Sir Michael Rose, a former UN commander in Bosnia, was quoted by the right-of-centre Mail on Sunday as saying: "I think the politicians should be held to account ... my view is that Blair should be impeached."That would prevent the politicians treating quite so carelessly the subject of taking a country into war."A high-profile resignation of a senior armed forces officer before the start of the March 2003 conflict may also have made the British Government think twice before sending troops to the Gulf, he added."I would not have gone to war on such flimsy grounds," he said. ...http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17761511%255E1702,00.html

A fast-moving wildfire burned about 100 acres Saturday, and two volunteer firefighters were injured after they were thrown from the back of fire trucks trying to escape the flames. The blaze was among more than 20 wildfires that burned across Oklahoma on Saturday, fueled by drought-like conditions and gusty winds. Texas firefighters battled wildfires across eight counties. The two volunteers, from Jacktown in central Oklahoma, were taken to a hospital with minor cuts. One Meeker Fire Department truck was trapped in the fire, which scorched the vehicle's door and melting plastic from a side-view mirror....http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1482753

A teenager is found murdered in a relatively peaceful area of northern California, her body dumped behind a restaurant. A search for the victim's identity comes up empty but police won't give up in their quest to give the girl her name back. Will a forensic reconstruction of the victim's face lead investigators to a much-needed breakthrough? “It haunts me a lot. I think it haunts everybody that has worked on this case,” says Sgt. Scott Dudek of the Alameda County Sheriff's office. Like any good homicide detective, Sgt. Dudek can sometimes get a little obsessed with his cases. But there’s one case that troubles him more than any other. A 22-year veteran of the Alameda County Sheriff’s department in northern California, Dudek had solved his share of gruesome crimes. But murders are rare in the suburban community of Castro Valley. “It’s a beautiful community. It’s about 75,000 people, middle- to upper middle-class mostly. Not a lot of crime; not a lot of violent crime especially,” ...http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/04/48hours/main1177093.shtml?CMP=OTC-RSSFeed&source=RSS&attr=U.S._1177093